Caffe Vita &
Smith Tower Museum

ROOTED IN HISTORY, DESIGNED ANEW.

This renovation transformed the front ground-floor suites of Seattle’s historic Smith Tower into a dual-purpose space combining a new Caffe Vita café with the Smith Tower Museum check-in and exhibit entry. Drawing inspiration from classic Parisian subway stations, the design embraces a timeless aesthetic using salvaged materials like vintage wood back-bars, marble counters, and historic doors. The layout supports flexible use, serving as a neighborhood coffee shop by day and a wine-and-bites destination in the afternoon and evening, while also functioning as a welcoming entry point for museum visitors.

Despite a fast-tracked schedule, the design was refined throughout construction to achieve a high level of detail and craftsmanship. Features like diamond-patterned hex tile were carefully laid out to reflect the historic character of Smith Tower, aligning with original materials and architectural elements found elsewhere in the building. Salvaged marble counters, vintage wood back-bars, and historic doors were restored and integrated to create a seamless blend of past and present—so cohesive that visitors often can’t distinguish between what is original and what is newly built.